Housing Guide

THE ORACLE

SUMMER 2019

HOUSING GUIDE

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Classifieds To place a classified ad go to http://www.usforacle.com/classifieds

HELP WANTED Barbizon USA is seeking a full-time Education Coordinator.

Being an education coordinator at Barbizon is an incredible opportunity for someone looking to grow along with the world leaders in training professional models and actors. To be an education coordinator, you’ll need to be outgoing with excellent customer skills and a desire to continue to advance into larger roles with Barbizon. You will assist our clients with class information, handle email correspondence with our clients, manage client accounts, teach our worldrenowned curriculum and other various support projects for our 100+ locations. But, most of all, you’ll be entering our prestigious company in a great position that allows for a fast tracked opportunity to continue to grow in this role and many others within the company.

Email kimflores@barbizonusa.com

SERVICES OFFERED Homeschool Teacher/Traveling Nanny We are seeking a fun, energetic person passionate about developing curriculum and create out of the box learning experiences for our twin four year-olds. Our ideal candidate must have completed their educational general knowledge test. We prefer someone with interest and courses in sociology and/or history. Must be comfortable with flexible hours and extensive travel. The compensation is generous at $30/hour plus all travel expenses when traveling with the family.

Please submit your resume and a short description of why you would be a good fit for this position.

Email ksweazy@teampepin.com

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e f i l e g d lo

COMMUNITY AMENITIES

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PLATINUM UNITS!

Resort-style pool Lodge-style clubhouse 24-hour fitness center 24-hour computer lounge Basketball court Free tanning Gated community Free parking Pet friendly On-site maintenance Courtesy patrol officer Monthly resident events Award winning management

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APARTMENT AMENITIES Fully furnished apartments Private bathrooms in every bedroom Free high-speed internet & cable with HBO Wood-style plank floors Quartz countertops* Upgraded lighting* Washer & dryer Ceiling fans Brushed nickel finishes* Modern appliance package Screened-in porch Dual privacy locks Individual leases Roommate matching *Select units

CAMPUSLODGETAMPA.COM | 813.454.0228

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OFF THE GRID OFF-CAMPUS SAFETY

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A SAFETY GUIDE

The Dean of Students Office and the Off-Campus Safety Committee encourage you to make safety a priority when choosing an apartment.

DOORS: WHAT TO LOOK FOR

EXTERIOR DOOR TYPES

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All outside doors are solid core or metal-clad in construction

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If hinges are on the outside, the pins are the non-removable type

Solid wood or wood core – High Security

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All outside doors have deadbolt locks

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Metal-Clad – High Security

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Sliding glass doors have screws in the frame that prevent the doors from being lifted up and out of the tracks

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Hollow Core – Poor Security

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Sliding Glass – Poor Security

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Sliding glass doors have a secondary security device (Charlie bar or dowl)

ABOUT STRIKE PLATES A strike plate is found on the doorframe where the lock catches and it should have an extended surface area. The strike plate itself should be embedded in the door’s frame and 2 x 4 studs with 3-inch wood screws.

DOOR LOCK TYPES •

Double Deadbolt – requires a key to operate it from both sides

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Single Deadbolt – requires a key on the exterior and thumb-turn on the inside.

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The bolts in each of these should have a 1-inch throw into the door jam.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING: WHAT TO LOOK FOR •

Entrances are well-lit

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Llights turn on automatically at night

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All lights work properly and are protected or placed at a height that will not allow the casual removal of bulbs

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Parking lots are well illuminated

LANDSCAPING: WHAT TO LOOK FOR Does the landscaping create “blind spots” which allow someone to stand or crouch unobserved by your window?

Shrubs or other plants around the apartment should be trimmed back to allow for a clear view of all windows and doors.

These items should be kept less than 2 feet tall or below the lower edge of your window.

FENCES AND PARKING AREAS: WHAT TO LOOK FOR •

Fences or gates do not block visibility of window, walkways, yard, entrances or parking areas

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All parking spaces or carports have good lighting and allow for an unobstructed view of the entire area

SPECIAL SECURITY TIPS •

Engrave all property (TV, DVD player, laptop computer, camera, etc.).

Your driver’s license number is a good choice.

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Use extra security when living in an apartment on the ground floor.

Dean of Students Office MSC 4301 usf.edu/deanofstudents

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Living off campus will save you money in the long run

By Danielle Wirsansky U L O O P

Most college students are very eager to live off-campus. Of course, there is the time old rite of passage, living in an on-campus dorm, to experience. And you should definitely experience that. However, participating in that tradition does not mean that you need to do it all four years of college.

One of the biggest selling points for living off-campus is the cost difference. Maintaining your own home can be quite expensive. The cost of living on-campus is quite high, though you get good perks for

it. You usually have dining options so you do not have to worry about cooking for yourself. You are way more immersed in life on campus.

And you have the campus security, Resident Assistants, and more monitoring your safety.

But if you can demonstrate how much cheaper it would cost to live off-campus, you might be able to convince them to let you make the change. My College Guide explains how “Students at public schools can expect to pay an average of $8,887 [for room and board] and those at private schools will pay an average of $10,089 per year.”

Trulia also recently did a national

study to compare the costs of living on or off campus. The study proved that a majority of the time, it was equal in cost, if not cheaper, to live off-campus than it is to live on campus as well.

Another great reason to live off-campus is the fact that it will teach you some responsibility. For most students, living off-campus is the first time they have lived on their own. It is the first time that they have been in charge of their own living situation and the first time that there could be real-life consequences if they mess up. It can be a lot of pressure, but you have got to learn eventually, right?

It is up to you to find an appropriate place to live, where the landlords do their job, the neighborhood is safe, and the apartment is not falling apart.

It is up to you to maintain your apartment, keep it clean and livable, and make your own food to keep yourself alive. It is also up to you to make sure your bills are paid on time and that you stay within a budget so you have enough money to go around.

This is not always the case, but living off-campus and having to sign a lease and pay rent can help you build credit. Credit.com explains that “Having good credit can help

you rent an apartment, and paying rent on time can help you build good credit…”

Of course, the details are a little trickier than that. The most important way renting an apartment can affect your credit score, however, is if you do not pay your rent on time. That will definitively tank your credit score, so that is one part of living off-campus that you will need to be really careful about.

Think about these reasons to live off-campus before you make the big decision.

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Ways to clean your plate instead of your wallet

By Alyssa Laffitte U L O O P

We, college students, have a tendency to spend way too much money on food. We are busy, so it’s way too easy to drop tons of money on quick and easy fast food, because it’s convenient.

Most of us would say that the majority of our money goes to food.

An easy way to save money is to plan your meals in advance.

A lot of the time, we college students spend a lot of money on food because we want to grab something quick and easy. Unfortunately, this is an unsustainable habit for both your wallet and your health. If you plan your meals, you won’t

need to grab junk food, because you will already know what you’ll eat for your next meal.

The easiest way to waste money on food is to buy your lunch every day. It’s convenient, but again, it’s not sustainable for your body or your wallet.

Instead, pack your lunches.

Chances are, the lunches you pack will be healthier and cheaper. If you need ideas on what to pack for your lunch, do a quick Google or Pinterest search. In other words, packing your lunches will help you spend less money on food.

Using a student discount is a good way to spend less money on food. As a student, you will likely be able to get a discount

at some restaurants, especially if you are in a college town. Of course, it’s better to pack a lunch rather than eat out. But if you must eat out, try to get a student discount. I would recommend doing your research to find out which restaurants in your area offer the best discounts.

It’s also good to know if they have discounts on certain days or times. All in all, it’s a good idea to use a student discount if you eat out.

Some restaurants and grocery stores have a membership program that will reward you for spending money there. The trick is to join these programs at stores that you already shop at; if you aren’t already a regular

customer, it won’t be worth it.

If you shop there enough, you will soon get discounts or other perks that will help you save money. In other words, in the stores you already shop at, you should definitely take advantage of these rewards programs because they will help you spend less money on food.

Similarly, another great way to spend less money on food is to constantly be on the lookout for promotions. You should always be looking out promotions for your local grocery store and for your favorite restaurants. For example, grocery store “BOGOs” (buy one get one) are especially useful for products that don’t expire, such as paper products.

This way, you can treat yourself while also saving money. You can find these promotions with a quick Google search, or on an app. (It’s a good idea to download your local grocery store’s app, as you will likely be notified of good promotions!) Promotions will definitely help you spend less money on food.

Going out to eat all the time is convenient, since you can get food quickly and easily. This is tempting for us busy college students. However, these outings can add up, and we need to save as much money as we can. If you plan your meals in advance and take advantage of promotions, you will save tons of money on food.

THE BEST STUDENT HOUSING EXPERIENCE NEAR USF The Social seeks to bring you a living environment that will help you elevate your lifestyle, foster lifetime connections, and make your mark during your college years. At The Social, residents enjoy a boutique community just minutes from the University of South Florida. Whether it's time to study, relax or get active, we offer a wide array of upscale amenities at a price students and parents love. With 24-hour access to our signature JIM fitness center and a full-service library with tech bar, residents can take care of what's most important whenever their schedule calls for it.

Residents love coming home to The Social's Swim Club and fully furnished apartments with full-size kitchens, valet trash and their own private washer and dryer. Plus, our all-inclusive rent and exceptional customer service make this the best choice for any student wanting to have everything at their fingertips to succeed.

919 Network Place Lutz, FL 33559 P: 8133 978-0088 https://www.thesocialatsouthflorida.com/

The Ivy

The Ivy has officially premiered all the newest industry changing renovations!

With a newly renovated fitness center, outdoor theater, outdoor poolside cabanas, and a private Starbucks lounge, being a resident will feel like having a private membership to the best spot in town! With fully furnished, all-inclusive apartments and unbeatable rates, you got yourself a deal!

We are leasing for Fall 2019- call us NOW at 813-984-7222!

Visit www.LiveTheIvy.com for more exclusive photos!

boardwalk Here at Boardwalk, we have an awesome play-action pool and party-size hot tub. We also have a fully equipped fitness center with state-of-the-art cardio and weight equipment.

Our clubhouse also includes a MOVIE THEATRE, a game room, a stand-up tanning bed and a business center with 8 computer stations, high-speed Internet and printing/ faxing capabilities. All of this is open 24/7 and is free to all residents! FREE transportation to and from USF. Apply by 7/15/19 and save $150 on move-in costs!

AMENITY SPOTLIGHT the retreat Retreat at Tampa features a wide array of amenities to keep you healthy, relaxed, and productive. Our off-campus community has a range of perks that exceed typical student housing apartments. Host friends to lounge in a cabana or spend time with your furry friend at our Bark Park. Get a quality workout at our two-level fitness center, then prep for your exam in a private study pod.

Visit www.retreatatusf.com to learn more!

campus lodge Experience lodge life with the largest 2, 3, and 4-bedroom off-campus apartments near USF! Campus Lodge offers off-campus student apartments in Tampa, FL near USF and Hillsborough Community College. Our apartments now offer platinum upgrades with a brand-new furniture package, luxury wood-style plank floors, quartz countertops, modern appliances, and upgraded LED lighting. Campus Lodge residents come home to amazing amenities such as resort-style pool, 24/7 fitness center, basketball court, and a 24/7 computer lab – plus a new poolside grilling station! Take our virtual tour or stop in to see what the lodge life is all about!

malibu apartments Malibu offers 24 hour access to a crystal blue pool including barbecue grills and a covered cabana area, full size gym, and game room!

We are a small community located just 40 feet from the USF campus. We are also conveniently located within walking distance to multiple dining establishments and grocery store. See our website for more details www.MalibuUSF.com or call us TODAY 813-988-8777 to secure your room for Fall 2019!

the social Stop by today to see all we have to offer! REINVENTED Clubhouse, Direct Access to Hart Bus Service, NEW Library with Tech Bar and iMac Computers, NEW JOE Coffee Bar with Starbucks Cafe Machine, NEW 24-Hour JIM Fitness Center with Cardio and Weight Machines, NEW Social Swim Club with Resort-Style Pool, On-Site Parking Included, Pet Friendly, 24-Hour On-Site Professional Management and Maintenance, Night Courtesy Patrol and so much more! www.thesocialatsouthflorida.com

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Dorm essentials that won’t break the bank

By Alyssa Laffitte U L O O P

Nowadays, it can be hard to find good quality home necessities, especially on a college student’s budget. Having these necessities will make your life easier, and they will not break the bank. Here are 9 things under $25 that you need in your home.

Let’s be honest: who doesn’t love to jam to their favorite songs while they are in the shower?! Of course, it’s not the best idea to bring your phone into the shower with you. Some people like to put their phone inside a plastic bag so it doesn’t get wet, which helps, but is still not convenient.

However, with a small shower speaker, you can enjoy your favorite tunes without worrying about your phone getting wet. It’s definitely worth the investment.

It’s no secret that plastic straws are not good for the environment, so we should stop using them.

But if you prefer to drink through a straw, you still have options.

Reusable glass straws are a good alternative that won’t harm the environment. You can find them fairly cheap, and sometimes they even come with a brush to wash them. If you are a straw lover, replace your disposable straws this these reusable glass straws.

Do you have a coffee maker that uses K-cups? This K-cup carousel is a cute way to not only organize, but also store and display your K-cups. This carousel is much better than stashing the K-cups in a messy box. You will easily be able to find the one you want.

As a bonus, it is a fun decorative piece for your kitchen, too. If you are a K-cup lover, you should definitely consider getting a K-cup carousel.

These changeable letter boards have become very trendy recently (Yes, the ones you have been seeing all over Instagram and YouTube). They are a fun way to write cute messages and keep them as decoration. You can write a funny or encouraging message on it to cheer you up when you are feeling down, or you can write the lyrics to your favorite song. Either way, this changeable letter board is a fun little piece of decoration that you will be glad to have in your home.

It can be hard to charge all your devices if your place only has a couple of outlets. It’s even more difficult if you have roommates that you share those outlets with. This is definitely the case with my family, as we all want to charge our phones and laptops at the same time. A multioutlet plug solves this problem, since it can turn one outlet into three or four. If you buy this, you can easily triple or quadruple the number of outlets available. With this little gadget, there will be no more fighting over who gets to charge their electronics.

Especially during this time of the year, burning a scented candle is very soothing. I like to burn warmer, pumpkin cinnamon candles during the fall, and peppermint or pine candles during the winter. Burning a candle will bring a nice ambiance to your place. Of course, never ever leave a burning candle unattended.

Clearly, you can get many convenient gadgets and décor pieces under $25 for your home.

These items will make your place more comfy and cozy, and they will nicely fit into your college student budget.

Use a shower speaker so you don’t have to worry about your phone getting wet.SPECIAL TO THE

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K-cup carousels are a cute way to not only organize, but also store and display your K-cups.

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LIVE YOUR Best Life.

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The do’s and don’ts of signing a lease

Read the fine print of your lease agreement so you aren’t paying more than expected.

SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE

By Amanda Cohen U L O O P

When it comes to signing a lease, whether it be for an apartment, a house, a store-front, a kiosk, or any of the sort, it’s important that you are vigilant and read over the documentation carefully. People so often are screwed over because they didn’t read “the fine print” and it ends up causing them a lot of money that could have been used for just about anything else.

It might be easier to explain this with a scenario. Let’s say your lease agreement is good for 12 months. Your contract will specify a date in which you must decide to either renew your lease or not: let’s say the renewal date is six months in. If you don’t renew your lease by month six, your landlord has the option to

lease out your apartment for the following 12 months once you vacate the premises. Make sure that the renewal deciding date works for you; it’s not too early on that can’t make an informed decision about whether or not you want to renew your lease, but it’s also not so late in that you don’t have time to search for a new place.

First, if you are allowed to sublet or not: Some buildings don’t even allow current tenants to sublet their apartment. If you think that you can just sublet “under the table,” I strongly advise against that because if you get caught, you are in breach of your contract and will probably have to pay your apartment’s management office a fee. Plus, if you sublet under the table, your new tenant won’t be able to

order packages to the building nor receive updates from the leasing office.

Second, some buildings have different terms in regards to what it means to have a subtenant.

Some buildings have you completely sign over your lease to the new tenant. This means that you are giving up your rights to the lease and your subtenant essentially becomes a new tenant for the building. Another potential way subletting may work with your building is that you become the new occupant’s landlord. In this scenario, you are still responsible to put in any work orders, address updates, and relay move-in and move-out to your tenant, not the building’s property manager.

You can sometimes discuss

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with your building’s management office that your tenant can receive packages in their name and report apartment issues via e-mail instead of you, but this all depends on your building’s flexibility, their occupancy and how much the building manager and their staff can handle.

Most people think that an apartment’s pet policy only has to do with whether or not you can have a pet in the building, however it goes so far beyond that. If you have allergies, or if you want a certain pet, you must look into these rules closely. If

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you have allergies, you will want to make sure that your lease agreement has a strict pet policy.

For example, certain floods or buildings don’t allow pets, so maybe that’s the floor for you.

However, if your apartment allows any sort of pet, you might want to look for a different place to live.

If certain items aren’t outlined in the lease, but you want them included in the lease, ask them to add it so that all your bases are covered. Now, keep hunting for your new home and get ready to start this new chapter of your life as prepared as possible.

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first $1.oo off Your delivery order

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Lighting up your living room space

By Alicia Geigel U L O O P

1. Mix and Match: Having a natural color palette in the living room gives you the opportunity to experiment with fun colors, textures and patterns. Since the majority of the space has neutral colors and a neutral theme, adding pops of colors, textures or patterns can add a lively boost to your space and make it less monotone! Whether it’s adding polka dotted pillows on your sofa, a zebra-patterned rug, or an accent wall- mixing and matching helps to add freshness to your neutral space!

Laura Flanagan of The Spruce notes, “When decorating with a neutral color scheme, it’s really important to bring in a variety

of patterns and textures. By offsetting rough with soft, shiny with matte and coarse with smooth, it’s possible to create depth and interest, making the room more dynamic.“ 2.

Incorporate Nice Architecture/Lighting: Part of what can make a room more interesting and appealing are nice pieces of architecture and eclectic lighting. For one thing, lighting itself can expand a space and make it seem larger and more welcoming.

In your neutral living room, try to incorporate as much natural lighting as you can, as not only will it make your space seem larger, but it will also highlight the neutral tones of the room!

Additionally, bringing attention

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to architectural details, such as ceiling beams or crown molding can elevate your space and provide a nice visual contrast to the natural colors.

3. Have Fun with Mirrors: Generally speaking, I think a lot of us can be scared of decorating with mirrors because we don’t know how to. With mirrors, there are so many choices in terms of size, color, and style, that it can be overwhelming to pick one. Because of this, many people settle with just getting a plain, boring mirror that doesn’t necessarily fit their style or personality. Don’t lose sight of who you are while decorating your neutral living room! Adding a large, fun or funky mirror to

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Incorporate as much natural lighting as possible to make your space seem larger and highlight the neutral tones of the room.

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your living area can make it seem bigger.

Brittney Smart of HomeEdit. com writes, “Mirrors add so much to any living room, but they are particularly useful in a neutral one. They reflect the light and therefore brighten and enlarge the space. The mirrors themselves read as a neutral and thus add depth to any neutral palette, whether it’s based upon browns, whites, creams, greys, or any other neutral shade.”

4. Accent the Details: Decorating any space ultimately comes down to the small details.

Specifically, when decorating a natural area, details become even more important because these are the items that end up sticking out above everything else.

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When it comes to decorating your neutral living room, remember to accent the details!

Add fun things that pertain to you and your own style to give it some personality. Place some of your favorites books on a coffee table, lay a fluffy throw blanket on the sofa, add succulent plants or flowers on your windows- do anything to have fun and include a piece of you in your living room.

5. Make it Comfortable: At the end of the day, we want our spaces to be breathable, warm, and comfortable. As it is a space where we spend a lot of our time, a living room should always be a comfortable space to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. If your space has no personality or is muddled by neutral colors, it’s going to feel more like a space

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you want to avoid rather than to escape to.

To make your space warm and inviting, Lauren Flanagan suggests, “One is through the use of soft textures that feel nice to the touch. Think about using velvets, wools, chenilles and even microsuedes.”

When decorating any space, I think we all like to follow specific guidelines and stray away from deviating the “norm.”

Having a neutral-themed living room means that you have free range to incorporate fun and style any way you please, whether it be in big ways like grandiose lighting or small ways like accent pillows. Remember to have fun and do what makes you comfortable.

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Apply by 7/15/19 and save $150 on move-in costs!

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